10. Scientific Projects, 1998-9
10.1 Current Projects
Dr. Jost briefly reviewed the project approval system as it has
evolved based on the experience gained with projects submitted
in 1999. He also noted that the number of current projects in
the database of current projects continued to decrease as Commissions
brought the information in the database up to date. Prof. Jortner
commented that the data presented indicated that of 341 projects
in the Handbook, 29 were completed in 1998-9. This led to the
conclusion that the average life of a project was more than ten
years. While this calculation was simplistic, it did highlight
the problem that too many projects took too long to be completed.
10.2 New Project Approval System
Prof. den Boef reviewed the meeting of the Project Committee held
on Wednesday, 11 August. The Committee had the opportunity to
review two projects earlier in the year. This brought a number
of issues to the Committee's attention. The need to develop an
agreed upon procedure with the Division Committees, Standing Committees
and the Bureau for handling project approvals was necessary. The
position of the Standing Committees is not well defined in some
of the background material and needs to be clarified. The concept
of Relevant IUPAC Body, as used in the Project Submission Form,
needs to be clarified. In doubtful cases the Secretariat should
consult the Secretary General.
The Committee felt that the outside reviewers would be helped
by having a form to fill out. The Introduction to the form should
provide some background information in addition to the material
available on the Web Site or in Chemistry International.
The revised form will be circulated for comment. The Project Committee
felt it was important that it be able to ask for reviews by additional
referees if necessary. The names of reviewers should be known
to the Division Committee and the Project Committee but not to
the project proposers. The Committee also felt that the Division
Committee should provide their written assessment of a project
when submitting it to the Project Committee.
The Committee felt that speed was important. The members agreed
to a target of two weeks for a decision. The Committee will not
wait to accumulate projects but will act on projects as they are
received. The letter transmitting the funding decision should
be sent by the Secretariat in the name of the Secretary General.
Prof. Jortner expressed his thanks to Prof. den Boef and the Committee
and noted that the project approval process is central to maintaining
the image of IUPAC. Prof. Becker noted that while the funding
letter will come from the Secretariat, further communication regarding
project administration should be with the Division Committee.
Prof. Corish suggested that the categories Materials, Biomolecular,
and Environmental should be added to the form. Prof. Steyn requested
that in future the list of projects under review should include
the proposed budget and time scale.
11. Divisions - Receipt of Written Report
[Council Item 9]
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for Council Agenda Items
11.1 Items from Meeting of Division Presidents
Prof. Gilbert made a brief report on the meeting of Division Presidents
held on Monday, 9 August. Among the main points presented were
that voting for Division Committees in 2003 should be by correspondence,
the desirability of providing a list of possible criteria for
retrospective evaluation and examples of projects that had been
approved by the Division Committees and the Project Committee.
Two subjects were deferred to the next Executive Committee Meeting:
the question of an official language for IUPAC sponsored conferences
and a proposal to distribute Pure and Applied Chemistry
free to institutions in developing and economically disadvantaged
countries.
12. Standing Committees and Other Bodies
Reporting to Council and Bureau - Receipt of Written Reports
Prof. Jortner noted that the reports of the Division Presidents
and Standing Committee Chairmen had been received with thanks
and had been transmitted to the Council for their information.
He noted that the Chairman of the Committee on Printed and Electronic
Publications would present a report on the meeting of the Committee
earlier in the week, 8-9 August, when Item 22 of the Agenda was
discussed. Dr. Wright drew the attention of the Bureau to the
recent decision of SINOPEC, the largest petrochemical company
in China, to become a Company Associate. He also noted that UNESCO
had asked for 250 copies of the special issue on Environmental
Oestrogens to distribute to its member governments.